Getting into DDR

I started playing DDR!

I've always been a big fan of the Konami line of rhythm games, even though I've never been all that good at them. I used to play Beatmania IIDX for a bit (I couldn't play anything harder than 8s and 9s) and I still sometimes casually play Sound Voltex (Right now I crash out on 15s).

I don't know why I was really embarassed to try for so long, but Dance Dance Revolution is really fun! There's a surprising amount of complexity to the physical aspect to it that I find really satisfying to tackle.

Right now I can play 9s and easy 10s, and I'm working on getting better. I'm still getting used to crossovers, and I'm trying to get used to faster scroll speeds.

My biggest "kill" (so far)

I'd love to also play Dancerush Stardom at a higher level, but the arcade I go to simply refuses to fix their machine.

A Rival

I was finishing a DDR set the other day and I was approached by a person who said they recognized me by my Bemani Gamertag.

"So you're YUNOCCHI," they said.

They mentioned that they've been seeing my name on the machine leaderboards, and commented about how crazy I was for playing no-bar (my arms get tired holding the bar pretty easily so I actually go back and forth 😅), and then gave me friendly challenge to a set.

We tied 2-2, but I was quite out of breath after they challenged me to a particularly note-dense 10. I told them I needed a break, told them it was nice meeting them, and caught my breath at a Street Fighter cabinet.

It was pretty surreal being called by my gamertag, and even more surreal that I managed to compete in a set of DDR with someone in 2024 (and be toe-to-toe with them).

If you're reading this, ARTBUDDY, thanks for the game. I hope we meet again, cuz I'll beat you next time! 😁

Oxygenating Stagnant Water

Rhythm games tend to be what some people would call 고인물 (goinmul, lit. stagnant water) games.

The term is used to refer games with a low influx of new players, because of things like the game's age, or the barrier of entry to enjoying the game being perceived to be high. This leaves the game with a playerbase close to mastery, making the barrier of entry look even higher.

Other goinmul games include most fighting games, Puyo Puyo, and Tetris.

Physical arcades are dying, and while the games I mentioned have since adapted to be playable on home console and PCs, arcade rhythm games don't have that luxury. It's people like ARTBUDDY that help keep the spirit of the arcade alive.

If you're fortunate enough to live in a country that still has arcades, be an ARTBUDDY.